The mourning activities of Ashura reached close to the peak on Friday, 8th Muharram, as a number of Tazia and Alam processions of Hazrat Abbas were brought out in various parts of the City under strict security.

Besides, a number of Majalis were held in Imambargahs where Zakerin narrated the Karbala incident with particular emphasis on the martyrdom of the companions of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and the philosophy of the Azadari.

A large number of chest beating and Noha reciting mourners participated in the processions held to commemorate the sacrifice of Hazrat Abbas (AS), the stepbrother of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), who laid down his life after waging a valiant battle against the army of Yazid. The processions passed through their routes and ended peacefully in the evening.

The 8th Muharram is also associated with Hazrat Ali Akbar (RA), the elder son of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), who stood by his father’s commitment and also marshaled the Karbala martyrs as assistant to his father. Hazrat Ali Akbar also used to give the prayer call and was called the Moazan of Caravan-e-Karbala. His Azan-e-Fajar on the day of Ashura holds vivid memories of the battlefield.

The authorities made tough security measures for the security of the processions as thousands of police personnel and those belonging to different branches of law enforcing agencies were deployed to monitor them and maintaining security. The routes of processions were closed for the entry of passers-by while policemen were deployed along the routes and also on the rooftops of the buildings along them. The residents of the buildings along the route were barred from opening their windows and coming to the roofs but women and children were allowed to watch the procession from windows. All the routes were scanned and checked by squads before the arrival of the processions. All entry and exits of the routes were sealed by barricades and police personnel.

Major processions included the Zuljanah and Taboot procession inside Bhaati Gate which, after following its designated routes, ended at Chatterji Road at night.

The Zuljanah processions from Lytton Road while Taboot processions from Said Mitha Bazaar were brought out at night which ended inside Bhaati Gate. Zuljanah processions were also brought out in other parts of the City, included Model Town, Krishan Nagar, Imamia Colony, Jafaria Colony and Mughalpura. Thousands of the faithful mourned at different points of the procession route and the Nohakhwans recited the events of the Ashura.

The mourning (chest beating) intensified as Zakerin in the Majalis elaborated the torments on the family of Hazrat Imam Hussain and their companions who were deprived of water from the Euphrates river by the Yazid forces from the seventh of Muharram.

On Saturday (today), 9th Muharram, the mourning activities will reach their peak with the bringing out of the central Zuljanah procession from Nisar Haveli, inside Mochi Gate, at night. The central Zuljanah procession will march through its traditional route and culminate on Sunday (tomorrow) at Karbala Gamay Shah after several other Zuljanah processions will join it along the route.